Judge away!dd1's reading book-is this grammatically correct?

[FuriousGeorge]

dd1 was practicing her reading tonight and we came across this sentence.

'Class 2d was learning all about recycling'.

It seemed wrong to me and dh agreed.We think it should be 'were learning' or 'are learning' or even 'had been learning'.

Are we right,before I make a tit of myself pointing it out to her teacher?

Many thanks.

[Doodlez]

I think it is correct. Class 2D, is singular although it's meaning is a number of children, IYSWIM?

[emkana]

Sounds okay to me, but then I'm foreign

[fortyplus]

Yes - 'class' is singular so 'was' is correct.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

The class - singular - was learning about recyling

the pupils - plural - were learning about recyling

HTH

[Poledra]

Well, I would say that as it's only one class, so 'was' is correct.

If it said 'The children of class 2d...' then it's a plural and 'were'.

It's one of those things that doesn't sound correct but really is.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

there ya go

[IdrisTheDragon]

It is right. Class 2d is just one class so is singular.

[Bigboots]

Yep, Doodles is right! Do agree it does sound/look odd though - think of Strictly - "the first of our couples to dance tonight is ...."

[deepdarkwood]

As everyone else has said, grammatically correct, but sounds wrong. Defn not one to pick up on (unles you want to get into a debate on the relative values of 'correct' vs colloquial grammitical constructions

[FuriousGeorge]

Wow-that was fast.I see what you mean,but it just sounded odd.ie 'James was learning about recycling',singular,sounds right,but 'class 2d was' doesn't.
Thankyou-I shan't go in and flaunt my ignorance now.

[EightiesChick]

Contentious one this. David Crystal (top lignuistic scholar) says there is a case for using either 'was' or 'were' depending on whether you want to show the entity as being absolutely as one, integrated, or with the potential for divergence - i.e. 'The government is totally in agreement on this issue', vs. 'The government are in disarray'. So the class would usually be a singular entity but with certain statements using the plural would be appropriate. So no, I think it's fine and wouldn't mention it. Save that for a wrongly used apostrophe!

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]

Tricky, I think.

'The class was learning' is technically correct, because there is one class and so it is/was learning. But because the class is composed of several/many children, it is acceptable - but less correct, as such - to say that the class are/were learning.

If you complain to the teacher, there is, I fear, a risk of norkdom. If you want the full force of MN judgment, take this over to Pedants' Corner!

[MadBadandDangerousToKnow]